Alining device for type-writing machines.



PATENTED MAR. 28, 1905.

J. B. SECOR.

ALINING DEVICE FOR TYPE WRITING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 28, 1903.

' SW14.) ewbo L ilHO/WW"? a K 32 iwi/M1 000 UNITED STATES Patented March28, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

JEROME B. SECOR, OF DERBY, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE WVILLIAMSTYPEVVRITER COMPANY, OF DERBY, CONNECTICUT,

OF IOWA.

A CORPORATION ALINING DEVICE FOR TYPE-WRITING MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 786,056, dated March28, 1905. Application filed October 28,1903. Serial No. 178,810.

To a whom it may concern.-

Beit known thatI, JEROME B. SEooR, a citizen of the United States,residing at Derby, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Alining Devices forType- INriting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to alining devices for type-writingmachines, and has for its object to provide an alining device fortype-bars which is simple and cheap of construction and highly eflicientin use.

Heretofore in the construction of alining I5 devices for type-bars ithas been impossible to provide a device wherein the alinement of thetype-bars will be perfect notwithstanding the thickness or bulk of thepaper to be printed upon. None of the type-bars or alining devicesheretofore constructed have been efficient enough to guide the type endof the type-bar continuously until the moment when the type strikes onthe platen or paper carried thereby. As it is often necessary to printon from one to perhaps ten sheets of paper, as in manifolding, it isnecessary to have the type guided perfectly and continuously afterapproaching to within approximately one-tenth of an inch of the platen.Heretofore it has been customary in devices of this character to providea V-shaped notch to guide the movement of the type-bar. Such anarrangement is deficient, inasmuch as the type-bar is controlled only atthe actual finish of the stroke,

3 5 which makes the operation of the device practically valuelessbecause of the lack of range of control.

In the present arrangement I employ a spherical or acorn-shaped pin or apin of other 4 suitably-rounded shape in combination with a curvedperforation or hole struck on an arc with its center at the pivotalpoint oi the typebar, the pin being adapted to enter the perforation andguide the type-bar continuously for perhaps one-eighth of an inch ormore in its final approach to the platen, the range of said guidingoperation being determined by the length of the rounded pin and thelength of the curved perforation. This arrangement has proved entirelysatisfactory in operation, producing a perfect alinement despite thenumber of sheets printed upon or the thickness of the paper.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown only those parts of atype-writing machine Which are necessary to illustrate my invention.

Figure 1 represents a sectional side elevation of my improved aliningdevice. Fig. 2 is a front detail view showing a portion of themachine-bridge and alining-pin bracket mounted thereon. Fig. 3 is a planview of a portion of one of the type-bars, showing the type-head andalining-hole; and Fig. i is a side view, partly in section, of portionsof the alining-pin bracket and the rebound-spring.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, 1 represents a curved or roundhole or perforationin the type-bar 2, pivoted at 3 to the bracket 4,mounted on the bridge 5 of any type-writing machine, such type-bar 2being operated in any well-known manner-such, for instance, as by link 6and bell-crank 7, adapted to be engaged by the usual key mechanism.

8 is a padded seat upon which the type-bar 2 normally rests.

Positioned on the bridge 5 above the bracket 4 is an arm 9, carrying atits upper end a spherical or an acorn-shaped alining-pin or a pin of anyother suitable rounded shape 10, extending through the free end of areboundspring 11, secured to the arm 9. The hole 1 has those oppositeguiding-walls that are normal to the plane in which the type-bar swingsparallel and curved in arcs having their centers at the pivot of thetype-bar. The pin 10 atits greatest diameter fits when at any place hole1 in a line radial to the pivot of the typebar between the guiding-wallsof the said hole. The pin 10 being of spherical form where it contactswith the walls of the hole 1 and the hole lbeing in the arc of a circlecentering at in the 3, the type-bar pivot, exact alinement of the typeat the printing-point is insured even when several thicknesses of paperare on the platen 12. To accommodate slight irregularities of hanging ormotion of the type-bars, the end of the pin 10 is pointed, making thepin preferably of acorn shape, the result of which is to guide the pin10 into the hole 1. The diameter of the hole 1 is just large enough toadmit the acorn-shaped or spherical pin 10. The pin 10 being sphericalin shape at its largest diameter, where it contacts with theguiding-perforation 1, and slightly less in diameter than theperforation 1, the surface of the same fits snugly in contact with theparallel curved walls of the perforation 1, making it impossible for thebar 2 to vibrate out of its proper path and guiding the type-bar2continuously throughout the last part of its stroke. The spring 11prevents the bar 2 from coming to a dead-center and accelerates thereturn movement of the same.

I do not wish to limit my invention to the exact details of structure,inasmuch as many changes may be made without departing from the spiritof my inventionsuch, for instance, as the mounting of the pin 10 uponthe typebar 2 and provision of the curved hole 1 in the arm 9 or in somepart carried thereby.

The essential feature of my alining device consists in the combinationof a pin or projection, preferably of globular form, and a cooperatingparallel -sided or non-converging hole having those oppositeguiding-walls that are normal to the plane through which the type'- barswings curved in arcs concentric with the pivot of the type-bar. By theterm globular I intend to define a pin which is convex in the planeofits motion and,having its greatest diameter away from its base orattachment to the bar by which it is carried, so that it may have somefreedom of movement within a non-converging aperture after the largestdiameter of the pin has entered such tubular aperture in which it fits.I am thus enabled to effect equally accurate alinement with greatvariation in the number of sheets or thickness of the body of the paperon the platen. My invention is thus of great utility in manifolding andis definitely distinguished from an alining device consisting of aconical pin fitting in a cavity of corresponding form and in which thealining-pin must come to a definite and positive seat to effect anaccurate alinement. WVith such conical pin and cavity this accuratealinement is effected only at the extreme end of stroke of the type-bar,and any additional thickness of paper on the platen will impair theaccuracy of alinement by preventing accuracy of fit between the aliningmembers.

From the above explanation it will be apparent that my alining-pin mayhave any shape that will adapt it to cooperate, as described, with anarcuate non-convergent perforation-that is to say, a perforation inwhich the pin may move some distance after the alining engagement isestablished, thus guidingthe type-bar during the latter part of itsstroke. k

The acorn shape which I have here shown is my preferred globular orspheroidal form for the alining-pin, because the pointed apex rendersthe engagement between the globular pin and the tubular orifice moresure and easy in the rapid movement of the type-bar.

H avingthus described my invention, the following is what I claim as newtherein and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In an alining device for type-writingmachines, the combination of atype-bar and an alining-bar one of said members provided with a globularpin and the other with a curved parallel-sided perforation in which theglobular pin fits and travels during the latter part of the type-barmovement so as to guide the same toward the end of the stroke,substantially as described.

2. In an alining device for type-writing machines, the combination of atype-bar having a curved aperture provided with parallel guiding-wallsand a support bearing a globular pin adapted to fit and move within saidaperture in order to guide the type-bar in the latter part of itsmovement, substantially as described.

8. In an alining device for type-writing machines, the combination of atype-bar having a curved aperture having parallel guidingwalls and asupport bearing an alining-pin of globular form, adapting it to fit andtravel within said guiding-apertu re, and with a ta poring point tofacilitate its engagement with the guiding aperture, substantially asdescribed.

4. In an alining device for type-writing ma chines, the combination of apin of globular form with a tapering point mounted on the frame of themachine and type-bar pivoted in the frame having a perforation toreceive and guide said pin, having its guiding-walls curved on an arcconcentric with the pivot on which the type-bar moves, substantially asdescribed.

5. In an alining device for type-writing ma chines, the combination witha bracket, a leafspring on said bracket having a perforation therein anda rounded or acorn-shaped pin seated in said bracket and projectingthrough said perforation, of a type-bar provided with a curved holestruck in the arc of a circle centering at the pivotal point of the saidtype-bar, said hole adapted to engage the said rounded or acorn-shapedpin.

6. In a type-writing machine, a pivoted type-bar and a support; one ofsaid parts being provided with an opening formed with opposite parallelguiding-walls normal to the plane in which the type-bar swings andformed in arcs having their centers at the type-bar pivot; the other ofsaid parts being provided with a pin fitting between said guiding-wallsin a line radial to the type-bar pivot; said guiding-Walls continuing adistance suflicient to insure continuing alinement of the type-barduring the latter part of its stroke so that it is alined when arrestedat different distances from the platen.

JEROME B. SECOR. Witnesses:

GEO. H. PATTERSON, CHAS. E. BEARDSLEY.

